Pocklington 27 Ilkley 19

ILKLEY’S long list of absentees gave their team a lightweight look for their opening North East One match and that tipped the scale firmly in the favour of the heavier Pocklington outfit as they suffered their first defeat for 11 months.

The match was again an entertaining spectacle despite the drizzle which made handling particularly difficult.

Ilkley started well and Josh Kimber gave them the lead from a penalty when the home backs strayed offside at a scrum.

Within five minutes, following the first of many good rumbles by the Pocklington forwards, the ball sped out to the backs and despite a strong appeal for obstruction by the Ilkley defence, full back Jack Fletcher darted in on the left wing. Stand-off Dan Elliot missed the conversion.

Then it was Kimber’s turn to miss as two penalties drifted wide, but he made amends soon afterwards, when Craig Barker’s scything run was stopped illegally.

The only additional points in the first period came when the Pocklington defence fumbled a ball and conceded a penalty.

Kimber never looked like missing this and Ilkley finished the half 9-5 ahead.

At this stage, the Ilkley forwards had taken a battering, but were holding out and the backs looked dangerous with ball in hand.

But the Pocklington pack looked good and having taken control of a line-out 20metres out, rumbled their way forward for flanker Jack Holbrough to score a try.

From the kick-off, Pocklington tried to batter their way out of their own 22, but spilled the ball.

New boy Ben McGee picked up and hared his way from the left wing, cutting through several attempts to tackle, before offloading to Kimber, who then found Paul Petchey ready and waiting on the right wing.

Petchey had just enough space to squeeze past his opposite number and touched down a few metres infield, giving Kimber a slightly better chance of slotting the conversion for a 16-10 lead.

Pocklington’s pack hit back and when Ilkley conceded a second penalty in quick succession in their own 22, quick thinking by No.8 Matt Davies gave the home side another try, this time converted by Elliot, his only success from six attempts.

The Ilkley pack were really under the cosh now and referee Greg Dawson had hard words with John Cooksey before brandishing a yellow card for tackling a man without the ball.

Scenting blood, Elliot kicked for touch and it came as no surprise when a classic catch and drive gave the Pocklington forwards the try they deserved.

Kimber slotted a penalty after a deliberate knock-on, which saw the Pocklington offender, Charlie Allen, yellow carded. Ilkley duly piled on the pressure with Cooksey back on but the home defence held firm.

Another Ilkley attack was halted illegally and Kimber had the opportunity of securing what would have been a well-deserved bonus point. Unfortunately for Ilkley the ball struck an upright and the points were lost.

With seven minutes left to go and after some aimless hoofing from both sides, a sweet kick from Elliot found touch just five metres from the Ilkley line.

A poor throw to the back of the line was stolen by the Pocklington pack, who set up yet another catch and drive. Elliot’s miss was irrelevant and the score remained at 27-19 for the last two minutes of play.

This was a disappointing day for the Dalesmen. Conceding five tries, all by forwards, was a reflection of having to field a light pack, coupled with some poor line-out play.

On the other hand, the backs look like a class act and with a more regular supply of quality ball will surely cause their opponents a lot of problems.

Injuries remain a worry though, with skipper Stuart Vincent out for at least a month and record-breaker Stu Brewer also sidelined indefinitely.

Clearly more weight in the pack is required and the return of Steve Burns, Ollie Renton and James Spencer would be most welcome.